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Corrections officer suspended for relationship with inmate

NEWARK - A corrections officer at the Licking County Justice Center was suspended for 10 days without pay in December for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a female inmate, according to documents obtained by The Advocate during a quarterly check of completed internal investigations.

The corrections officer, Matthew Fryer, was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 18 after allegations came to light accusing Fryer of allowing a former inmate at the jail to live with him.

Another corrections officer had overheard female inmates in the jail discussing the relationship and the former inmate's use of Fryer's personal vehicle to drive and purchase drugs.

An incarcerated female who was aware of the relationship between Fryer and the inmate said she believed the relationship was short lived because of the former inmate's continued drug use and the theft of Fryer's property.

During an interview with investigators, Fryer said he had given the female inmate the number for a pre-paid cell phone in an attempt to hide the relationship. The pair reportedly spoke on the phone daily after Fryer stopped working in the module the female was housed in at the jail.

Records show Fryer and the inmate spoke 41 times between March 9 and April 12, when the inmate was released from the jail. On the calls, the pair exchanged "I love yous" and engaged in "quasi sexual talk."

"It does not appear in any of these calls the two engaged in intimate contact while she was here," Captain Chris Barbuto wrote in a supplemental report.

Fryer also said he had a relative put money into the inmate's jail account, totaling about $500 over an approximately three-week period. The use of a relative was an attempt to hide the actions, he said.

Fryer told investigators he had allowed the former inmate to live with him until he discovered she was using drugs again. He had allowed her to use his personal vehicle until he made the same discovery. Fryer also said the inmate had stolen property, including a gaming system and credit cards, but he had not made a police report for fear the female would make their relationship public.

Documents show Fryer accepted responsibility for his actions during a disciplinary hearing on Nov. 30 and was issued a 10-day suspension without pay.

"CO Fryer provided no excuses for his conduct and took full responsibility for his actions," Colonel Chad Dennis wrote in his report. "CO Fryer stated that he knew his conduct was unprofessional and said that he has learned his lesson and this type of behavior will not happen again."

Fryer was placed on a last chance agreement for two years, meaning if there are any further disciplinary issues of any kind, he could be terminated without any opportunity for arbitration.

Dennis told The Advocate Friday that Fryer's behavior was unacceptable and directly against sheriff's office policy.

"Obviously it was good nothing happened while she was in the facility, but the conduct itself is not something we want to encourage," he said.

Fryer has been employed with the sheriff's office since November 2014 and has no prior disciplinary history. The Advocate attempted to contact Fryer for a comment for this story and did not receive a response.